BRIGHTON and Hove Albion’s promotion to the Premier League has transformed the club and the city into a global brand, according to key supporters.

International tourism is predicted to increase and last week bronzed news anchors from US TV networks were in town to interview Albion stars in advance of the players’ coming return to top flight football.

Even a movie is not out of the question according to Paul Samrah, former chairman of the Falmer For All Campaign.

He predicted once Hollywood executives who watch Premier League ‘soccer’ hear of what the club has overcome in its 20-year battle to return from the lower reaches of the Football League, a film about the Albion is “perfectly possible.”

Last Wednesday TV crews from American network NBC Sports filmed a new segment called “PL Newcomer: meet Brighton and Hove Albion.”

They interviewed superfans who have painted their houses in Seagulls colours as well as players, executives and The Argus’s Albion reporter Andy Naylor.

The network is well-known for its sports channels, but perhaps most famous for the sitcoms produced by its entertainment division, including Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers.

The NBC piece, intended to introduce the club and the city to an American audience, is just one of dozens of indicators of Albion’s growing prominence as a sporting brand.

Liz Costa, of the Brighton and Hove Albion supporters’ club, said: “A lot more people will be watching us more regularly.”

She said an increase in tourism was a likely outcome, adding: “After the Rugby World Cup was here, Japanese tourists came up to The Amex in droves to see where the winning try was scored - they were keen to be there and see it.”

Mr Samrah said: “We’ve become a global brand. It’s like when we hosted Eurovison when Abba won - Brighton was on everyone’s lips but this is much bigger.

“The very fact there’s a new studio needed at The Amex - a new studio and broadcasting facilities just for international media, shows the demand and the interest is extraordinary.”

And, he added, Albion’s narrative could see the club and the city eclipse the other “newcomer” teams.

He said: “We have an extraordinary story to tell which will attract even more interest and publicity for our club. Once people start asking the questions about how we got here, suddenly the story will blow up.

“I’ve always said the story would make an amazing movie - once we get international recognition of what’s gone on, I think seriously there’ll be people interested.”